Short Summary

EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE OF ETHIOPIA, WHO VISITED THE IVORY COAST DURING THE WEEKEND, ON SUNDAY RECEIVED THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF ABIDJAN FROM THE MAYOR OF THE CITY, MR.

Description

EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE OF ETHIOPIA, WHO VISITED THE IVORY COAST DURING THE WEEKEND, ON SUNDAY RECEIVED THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF ABIDJAN FROM THE MAYOR OF THE CITY, MR. KONAN KANGA.

THE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE IN THE ABIDJAN TOWN HALL - WHERE MR. KONAN KANGA READ A SPEECH OF WELCOME. THEN HE HANDED TO THE VISITING EMPEROR A GOLDEN KEY - SYMBOLIC OF THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY. THE EMPEROR READ A SHORT SPEECH OF THANKS BEFORE SIGNING THE VISITOR'S BOOK.

THE FOLLOWING DAY EMPEROR SELASSIE WAS TO LEAVE THE IVORY COAST ON HIS TRIP BACK TO ADDIS ABABA. HE MADE AN UNSCHEDULED STOP ON THE WAY AT CONAKRY IN GUINEA - WHERE HE WAS MET BY PRESIDENT SEKOU TOURE.

IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE EMPEROR HAD TALKS IN THE IVORY COAST AIMED AT RESOLVING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE IVORY COAST AND GUINEA. GUINEA LAST MONTH ACCUSED PRESIDENT HOUPHOUET BOIGNY OF THE IVORY COAST OF PLOTTING, WITH OTHER FRENCH-SPEAKING AFRICAN LEADERS, THE OVERTHROW OF THE GUINEA GOVERNMENT HEADED BY PRESIDENT SEKOU TOURE. PRESIDENT HOUPHOUET BOIGNY DISMISSED THE CHARGE AS NAIVE AND RIDICULOUS.